Record



April 20, 1943. R. w. SEARS. 20 2,316,815

RECORD Filed Aug. 8, 1941 an 6 I I u If? i.

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATEN'l" OFFICE This invention relates to records and particularly to records for recording sound.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a record provided with means whereby a signature slip or identification means can be securely secured to the record by the author thereof, said means being impossible of being removed from the recorded record without leaving tell-tale evidence.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved record having means provided whereby a removable slip or tag adapted to contain the signature or identification oi the recorder or author is adapted to be inserted within the body of the record in a predetermined position, the said slip or tag being provided with means to prevent removal from the record by the provision of interlocking means between the slip or tag and the body oi the record whereby the slip or tag when inserted in position in the record is incapable of being removed without damage to the record or a part thereof.

A further object the invention is the provision of means to indicate or identify the author or recorder oi the record by the use of a personal signature or otherwise whereby the record after recordation will be equivalent to a signature on the letter, the identification means being incapable 0! being removed from the record without leaving evidence as to its removal.

A still further object is the provision of a new and improved record having means provided whereby the recorder or author can positively and permanently associate identifying indicia in connection with the record so that the author or recorder will know definitely that the matter contained on the record is his work.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of removable means carried by the record and adapted to be reinserted in the record. and when reinserted be prevented from being withdrawn except by leaving definite evidence as to the withdrawal thereof.

Another obiect of the invention is to-provide a record having an opening recess provided intermediate its upper and lower surfaces to receive an identifying tag or slip upon which the recorder may place identifying indicia to designate the recorded subject matter as his own, the tag or slip being adapted to be easily withdrawn and when reversed and reinserted in position is prevented from being withdrawn without damaging the record so as to leave tell-tale evidence of the fact that the identification slip or tag has been tampered with in some way.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the fol lowing specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as iollows:

Fig. 1 is a detail top plan view of a record and embodying the invention, parts being broken away for the sake oi clearness:

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. i but showing the identification tag or slip reinserted in posi tion so as to prevent its withdrawal;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fiz. 1:

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing how the record is mutilated when the reinserted slip or tag is attempted to be withdrawn from the record:

Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view of the top or recording surface of the record;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the intermediate portion or central section of the record;

Fig. 'l is a detail plan view of the bottom section 01 the record;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the slip or tag which is inserted in the record and adapted to be withdrawn andthen reinserted to com stitute a permanent attachment to the record.

The particular record herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a top or recording portion 0. an intermediate portion ill, and a bottom portion ii.

The top portion I is adapted to be .made of any suitable material such as plastic, ,metal, or other material adaptable to have proper sound waves cut or embossed therein, and is adapted to be fastened on top of the center or intermediate disc III. This disc il may be made of cardboard. fiber or any other suitable material and is mounted directly upon a bottom disc H, which may be made of the same material as the intermediate disc "I. The three discs may be securely and rigidly fastened together so as to form a laminated structure equivalent in all respects to a single circular element.

The central or intermediate disc ill which is of substantially the same diameter as the top disc I is provided with a cutout ii to receive a tag or slip It. The lower disc II is adapted to be provided with a cutout ll over which material II is placed so as to provide a protecting window N. The three discs I. II, and H are adapted to be secured rigidly and permanently together so that the window it will be directly under the cutoutl! so that the slip or tag II can be seen therethrough.

The slip or tag I! is substantially as wide as the slot or opening it and is substantially as thick as the central disc il so that when the 'same is in position in the slot I2 between the upper and lower discs! and II. it will ill] substantially the entire area of the space or opening. A

The record comprising the three discs 8, Iii, and H is adapted to have the slip or tag I! inserted in place therein with an extending tab ll projecting a predetermined distance beyond the peripheral edge ll of the record. The member II is adapted to contain perforations I! at a point coincident with the peripheral edge of the record or slightly inward of the peripheral edge so that when the tap portion I! defined by the perforations i9 is torn from the body of the tag or slip It, the edge of the slip or tag will not protrude beyond the peripheral edge of the record.

The record, when first obtained and before any recording is done thereon, has the slip or tag I! mounted in place in the slot i2 between the top disc and the bottom disc i I. The slip or tag it has the tab ll thereof projecting a predetermined distance beyond the peripheral edge of the record as clearly shown in Fig. 1. After sounds have been recorded on the upper surface of the top disc 9, the tag l3 is'adapted to be totally withdrawn so that the recorder or author of the matter recorded on the record may sign or otherwise provide indicia on the tag so as to identify the author or recorder of the record. The slip or tag I! is then adapted to be reinserted so as to lock the tag or slip permanently in position inthe recess II. The tag or slip i3 is provided with locking means so as to prevent withdrawal or removal thereof after the same has been reinserted. The locking means I! comprises a body portion 2| having a locking finger or needle 22 which is relatively sharp pointed at its end and which is made of resilient springy material.

The point 22 of the locking member is adapted to face inwardly toward the center of the record in its original position and condition, but is adapted to be sprung from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted liries in Fig. a, so that the locking end 2! will be reversed as shown in Fig. 2 so as to prevent removal. In Fig. l the locking member 22 is in a position so as to permit easy withdrawal of the member II out of the slot it. After the tag or slip ll has been withdrawn and the member I! bent over, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8, and reinserted in the slot ii, the tag I! will be prevented i'rom being withdrawn from the slot because of the resiliency or springiness of the member 12. The resiliency of the member 22 causes it to tend to raise from the plane of the member I! and engage and pierce the material from which the record is made. If desired. the tag or slip I! may have locking members 20 provided on opposite sides thereof so that when the members are sprung backwardly in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 and in full lines in Fig. 2, the members 2! will engage the under surface of the top part I and the upper surface of the lower disc ii. If desired, co-operating locking members 2! and 24 may be imbedded in the discs 8 and II respectively as clearly shown in Fig. 3 so that if the tag or--slip I8 is attempted to be withdrawn the upper and lower members 22 of the upper and lower locking members I. will engage the members 28 and fl and be locked in position. However, should extreme force be applied to the member I! in the attempt to withdraw it from its reinserted position, the members 2! will dig into the under surface of the top disc 8 and pierce the window Ill. and thereby show that the device II has been tampered with or replaced.

The purpose or the tag or slip II is to provide the author or recorder of the record with some means of identification to indicate that the record is of his own work or to identify the particular record with respect to some particular happening or event. The record is adapted to be made of some very thin material and of the kind which can stand a certain amount of abuse to withstand handling and mailing. The recorder may be a distance from his home or his office and would desire to send a message to his home or his office but would want to be rpre that the particular record which was sent to his home or his office was the particular record of which he was the author or recorder. Therefore, in order to determine this fact, he may withdraw the tag it, sign the tag it, and then reinsert it in position in the record so that it could not be removed. The signature wou d be plainly visible through the window it, and inasmuch as the tag or slip ll could not be withdrawn without tearing or otherwise mutilating the record or a part thereof. he would know that the particular record which he sent was the same record which was received. The record, therefore, would be the genuine work of the sender and the tag or slip ll would be tantamount to his own, signature or handwriting on a letter which he himself had written. The tab ll at the end of the tag or slip II would carry a numeral or some indicia to correspond with the tag or slip ll. Moreover the sender of the record could place a date or number on the tap to indicate the particular record, or serial numbers on the tab and the tag'could correspond to definitely designate or indicate the relationship between the tag. and its cooperating tab.

In Fig. 4 the tag or slip II is shown partly withdrawn out of its slot after it was reinserted whereby a member 22 has pierced through the window It. Continued movement to the right of the member I 3 would cause further damage or mutilation to the window It. Therefore, it would be ascertained readily that an attempt was made to remove the member II or that the original member It was replaced.

The invention provides new and novel means oi. relatively inexpensive and simple construction whereby indicating means are associated with the record to determine at all times the genuineness of the record and to indicate whether or not actual or attempted replacement of the original member if was made.

Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of, the parts without de-' parting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages: and theright is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A record comprising an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of. sound, a lower substantially coextensive surfaceunderlying said upper surface, there being a recess provided in the body of the record between said surfaces and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, and a tag removably inserted in said recess.

2. A record comprising an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduotion of ,sound, a lower substantially coextensive surface underlying said upper surface, there being a recess provided in the body of the record between said surfaces and extending beneath the recording and reproducing P rtion of said upper surface, a tag removably inserted in said recess, and locking means on said tag to prevent removal thereof;

3. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound, said body having an opening therein providing a pocket extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, a reinsertable member mounted in the pocket opening, and locking means on said member providing in one position for free withdrawal of the member from the record, said looking means being adapted to be reversed upon withdrawal of said member, and said locking means when reversed permitting the member to be reinserted in the opening but being adapted to dig into a part of the record if the member is attempted to be withdrawn.

4. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially, coextensive surface, there being a recessed pocket provided in said body between said upper and lower surfaces, said pocket extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of the record and underlying at least a portion of the recording and reproducing portion of said upper surface, a member arranged in said pocket recess, and locking means on the member and arranged in a predetermined position to permit withdrawal of the member from the pocket recess, said lockin means adapted to be reversed to permit the mem bar to be reinserted in the pocket but prevented from being withdrawn when the member is reinserted and the locking means reversed.

5. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the bodyand extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a member insertable in said recess and locking means on the member.

6. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a member insertabie in said recess, and co-operating locking means on the member and record.

, 7. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide 8. A record comprising a body having an upper surface including a portion for the recording and reproduction of sound and a lower substantially coextensive surface, said body being provided with a slotted recess providing a relatively thin wide pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface, a member insertable in said recess, and locking means on the member, said locking means adapted to be reversed to permit reinsertion of the member in the recess but to prevent withdrawal thereof.

9. A record having an upper surface adapted to be operated upon to provide sound recording grooves, a member adapted to be disassociated from said record, slotted means on said record for receiving said member, and means for preventing withdrawal of said member from said slotted means when again associated with the record.

10. A'record for recording and reproducing sound having a withdrawable member associated pocket formed in the body and extending beneath the recording and reproducing portion of the upper surface. a member insertable in said reces and co-operatlng locking means on the member and record, said locking means being arranged to permit withdrawal of said member when in a predetermined position.

therewith, slotted means on said record for receiving said member, said member adapted to contain indicia, said slotted means providing for reassociating said member with the record, and locking means to prevent withdrawal of the member from the record when reinserted in said slotted means.

11. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portion including a surface for the recording and reproduction of sound, said intermediate portion having a slot provided therein to receive a withdrawabie member, said slot extending beneath said recording and reproducing surface and being provided with a lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part of said slot.

12. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portionincluding a surface for the record- 'ing and reproductionof sound, said intermediate 13. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, said upper portion including a surface for the recording and reproduction of sound. said intermediate portion having a slot provided therein to receive a withdrawable member, said slot extending be- .neath said recording and reproducing surface and being provided with a lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal of said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part of said member, and lochng means on said member arranged to permit withdrawal of the member from the slot. said locking means adapted to be reversed to permit easy insertion of the member in the opening but preventing the member from being again withdrawn.

14. A laminated record for recording and reproducing sound having substantially coextensive upper, intermediate, and lower portions, one or said portions having a recording and reproducing surface, said intermediate portion having I. slot provided therein to receive a withdrswsbie member, said slot extending beneath said recording and reproducing surface and beingprovided with 5 a. lateral opening for insertion and withdrawal oi said member, said lower portion having a window in alinement with at least a part oi said member, locking means on said member arranged to permit withdrawal oi the member iron the slot, said locking means adapted to be reversed to permit easy insertion of the member in the opening but preventing the member from being again withdrawn, and locking means on one of said portions and co-operating with said locking means on the member.

RICHARD W. SEARS, II. 

